True Summer Color Palette
Summer · Cool · Medium value · Medium contrast
Not sure this is your season? Take the free color analysis quiz — ten questions, about two minutes, instant palette.
True Summer sits within the Summer family. If you need more softness, compare with Cool Summer; for more depth or clarity, see Deep Summer.
Full palette
Pin or save this board — each swatch includes a wearable hex for shopping and mood boards.
- Cool White
#F5F5F5
- Steel Blue
#7B9EAF
- Rosewood
#C08081
- Slate
#6B7B8C
- Mauve
#9B8AA5
- Denim Blue
#88A0B7
- Dusty Rose
#B76E79
- Blue Gray
#708090
- Sage
#A4B494
- Soft Violet
#8E7CC3
Colors to wear and avoid
Best colors to wear
- Cool White
- Steel Blue
- Rosewood
- Slate
- Mauve
- Denim Blue
Rose · Soft navy · Cool gray · Plum · Soft teal
Colors to avoid
- Bright Orange
- Golden Brown
- Camel
- Tomato Red
- Mustard
- Warm Peach
Bright orange · Golden brown · Warm camel · Tomato red
Outfit ideas
Rose, soft navy, and cool grays in matte fabrics create balanced outfits. Avoid warm beige stacks that dull your cool undertone.
Classic summer
- Top:
- Rosewood blouse
- Bottom:
- Soft navy trousers
- Outer:
- Cool gray blazer
- Accessory:
- Pearl necklace
Casual cool
- Top:
- Steel blue tee
- Bottom:
- Denim in soft wash
- Outer:
- Slate hoodie
- Accessory:
- Mauve sneakers
Office rose
- Top:
- Dusty rose knit
- Bottom:
- Blue gray skirt
- Outer:
- Soft navy coat
- Accessory:
- Silver watch
Weekend plum
- Top:
- Soft violet sweater
- Bottom:
- Cool white jeans
- Outer:
- Sage utility jacket
- Accessory:
- Plum crossbody
Makeup & hair
Makeup: Cool rose blush, raspberry or soft red lips, and mauve eyeshadow suit you. Warm bronze all-over can look muddy.
Hair: Medium ash brown and cool dark blonde are ideal. Golden or red-heavy dye shifts can clash with skin.
True Summer examples
Olivia Wilde
Cool medium contrast coloring
Jennifer Garner
Soft cool undertones
Grace Kelly
Classic true summer elegance
Similar color seasons
Compare neighboring palettes in the same family, or retake the quiz if you are between two seasons.
FAQ
- What colors should a True Summer wear?
- True Summers shine in Rose, Soft navy, Cool gray, Plum, Soft teal, and similar muted or balanced shades. Focus on cool hues at medium depth with medium contrast — the swatches above are your core wardrobe anchors.
- What colors should a True Summer avoid?
- Steer clear of Bright orange, Golden brown, Warm camel, Tomato red near the face when possible. They fight your natural cool undertone and medium contrast, making skin look tired or uneven.
- How do I know if I'm a True Summer?
- You likely fit True Summer if your coloring matches cool undertones, medium overall value, and medium contrast between hair, skin, and eyes. Compare with related seasons on this page, then confirm with the free color analysis quiz.
- How can I double-check my True Summer result?
- Take the free ten-question color analysis quiz. It scores your answers against all eighteen seasons and links you back to the matching palette page with hex codes you can save or share.